Capstan



Nov. 15, 1932. E. J. BARTELL CAPS TAN Filed Sept. 2, 1951 ATTORNEZQ Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES "PATENT orrlca mar J. BABTELL, CANAS'IOTA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL CABLE 00B- romrron, or new voax, N. 2., a conronarron on NEW masmr v cars'rau Application fled September 2, 1981. Serial No. 580,692.

This invention relates to capstans and similar winding devices such as are commonly employed in connection with wires, cables,

ropes or similar material to produce longitudinal movement thereof for any purpose.

In operation, the strand of wire or other material is wound around the capstan in a spiral having a 'suificient number of turns to provide the required-grip. Rotation of the capstan winds the material onto one endof the spiral and unwinds it from the other end, and such operation would cause the windings to move longitudinally of the drum or capstan were some arrangement not provided for preventing such traveL- Heretofore, this has frequently been accomplished by providing stationary fingers or other devices which engage one side of the material to prevent its travel along the drum and push the material back on the surface of the drum. Such devices rub or drag along the strand and sometimes cause considerable damage.

An object of this invention is to provide a capstan of the typeset forth having an improved arrangement for maintainingthe associated strand material in the proper position thereon.

This and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in this particular art,

are accomplished by the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing'in which Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a ca. stan constructed in accordance withone em diment of this invention, and

Fig. 2 is a central .transverse section thereof.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration comprises a drum or capstan having a strand-en aging surface about which the associated ca le or the like is wound, from three to five turns usually being suflicient to provide the necessary grip. Rotation of the capstan causes additional material to be wound on at one end of the spiral at the same time it is unwound from the other side thereof. In order to keep the turns of cable properly positioned upon the capstan without injuring the cable material in any way, the present invention contemplates the provision of a strand-guiding or secured on the bearingv7.

cable-shifting member associated with the surface of the capstan and adapted to move back and forth across such surface forthe purpose of pushing the, coils along such'sur- 'faceduring rotation of the capstan, without causm such member to drag along the surface 0 the cable. As illustrated, a drum or capstan 5 is secured to the usual supporting shaft'6 extending through a bearing block 7. The cable 8 or the like is drawn onto the capstan by rotation thereof, passed around the capstan to form a number ofturns 9, and drawn off the capstan at the opposite end of the spiral. To. properly position the cable and keep it properly positioned on the capstan, I' provide a strandsguiding member in the form of an annular disc or ring 10 having a flange 11 extending over the strand-engaging. surface of the capstan-5 and terminating 1n a continuous'annular shoulder 12 closely adjacent the periphery of the capstan and arranged tov engage the cable 8 as it is drawn onto the cap stan surface. The strand-enga ing shoulder. 12 is caused to move back an forth across the capstan surface to push the material therealong by supporting the disc 10 for rotation about. an axis at an an le to the axis of rotation of the capstan an the arrangement is such that the relative angularity of these two axes can be varied as desired. As illustrated, the disc is supported upon a ball bearin 13, the inner stationary race 14 of which 1s secured in a bearing support 15, adjustably mounted on a sup orting-block 16 The roller-bearing support 15 is arranged to be adjusted about a suitable centering pin 17 by adjusting screws 18, only one of which is shown, extending through the bearing support 15 and engaging the associated-supporting block 16. A flexible connection between the capstan and the disc 10 is provided for causing the latter to rotate therewith. As illustrated, this connection comprises an adjustable pin 19 supported in the capstan and extending through an associated opening 20 in the strand-guidin disc.

n operation, it will be apparent that rotation of the capstan draws the cable or similar material onto the surface thereof at one end of the coil 9 and passes it 01f at the other end.- The guidin disc 10 is caused to rotate with the capstan y the flexible connection, and, the axis of rotation of the disc being at an angle to the axis of rotation of the capstan, the strand-enga ing shoulder 12 moves across the periphery t ereof, engaging the cable and forcing the coil 9 along the capstan surface without any rubbing action between the shoulder and the cable. The angularity of the axes of rotation is such that the disc 10 is displaced from the coil 9 to provide a space into which the cable 8 can be drawn onto the drum, as will be readily understood. Suitable adjustment of the screws 18 permits any desired angular relation between the rotating parts for the accommodation of cables or strands of different diameters.

What I claim is:

1. A capstan comprising in combination a rotatable pulley and a strand-guiding member associated with the strand-engaging surface of said pulley and rotatable about an axis positioned at an angle to the axis of said pulley, and means for flexibly connecting said pulley and said guiding means for unitary movement.

2. A capstan comprising in combination a rotatable pulley and a strand-guiding member associated with the strand-engaging surface of said pulley and rotatable about an axis positioned at an angle to the axis of said pulley, means for flexibly connecting said pulley and said guidin means for unitary movement, and means or changing the degree of angularity of said axes.

3. A capstan comprising in combination a rotatable pulley and a disc associated therewith rovided with a shoulder overlying the stran -engaging surface thereof, and means for operating said disc so as to cause said shoulder to move an associated strand across said surface.

the axis of rotation of said pulley.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 31 day of August, 1931.

ERNEST J. BARTELL.

4. A capstan comprising in combination a I rotatable pulley, a circular disc associated therewith and adapted to engage a strand of material on said pulley, means for support-- ing said disc for rotation about an axis at an angle to the axis of rotation of said pulley an means for changing the degree of angularity of said axes.

5. A capstan comprising in combination a rotatable pulley, a strand-guiding member associated therewith and comprising a rotatable disc having a strand-engaging shoulder overlying the surface of said pulley, means for flexi ly connecting saidpulley and said disc for unitary movement, a bearing support for said disc and means for adjusting said bearing to shift the axis of rotation of said disc relatively to the axis of rotation of said P l y- 6. A capstan comprisin in combination a rotatable pulley, a stran -guiding member 

